Author(s)

B. S. Aribisala, S. Wiseman, Z. Morris, M. C. Valdes-Hernandez, N. A. Royle, S. M. Maniega, A. J. Gow, J. Corley, M. E. Bastin, J. Starr, I. J. Deary, J. M. Wardlaw

ISBN

1524-4628 (Electronic)0039-2499 (Linking)

Publication year

2013

Periodical

Stroke

Periodical Number

Volume

Pages

Author Address

From Brain Research Imaging Centre (B.S.A., S.W., Z.M., M.C.V.-H., N.A.R., S.M.M., M.E.B., J.M.W.), Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (B.S.A., M.C.V.-H., N.A.R., S.M.M., A.J.G., M.E.B., J.S., I.J.D., J.M.W.), Department of Psychology (J.C., I.J.D.), and Geriatric Medicine Unit (J.S.), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), Edinburgh, United Kingdom (B.S.A., M.C.V.-H., N.A.R., S.M.M., M.E.B., J.M.W.); Department of Computer Science, Lagos State University, Nigeria (B.S.A.); and Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom (A.J.G.).

Full version

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) and perivascular spaces (PVS) are features of small vessel disease, found jointly on MRI of older people. Inflammation is a prominent pathological feature of small vessel disease. We examined the association between inflammation, PVS, and WMH in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (N=634). METHODS: We measured plasma fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 and rated PVS in 3 brain regions. We measured WMH volumetrically and visually using the Fazekas scale. We derived latent variables for PVS, WMH, and Inflammation from measured PVS, WMH, and inflammation markers and modelled associations using structural equation modelling. RESULTS: After accounting for age, sex, stroke, and vascular risk factors, PVS were significantly associated with WMH (beta=0.47; P<0.0001); Inflammation was weakly but significantly associated with PVS (beta=0.12; P=0.048), but not with WMH (beta=0.02; P=NS). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating inflammatory markers are weakly associated with MR-visible PVS, but not directly with WMH. Longitudinal studies should examine whether visible PVS predate WMH progression and whether inflammation modulators can prevent small vessel disease.